Kickover tool

ABSTRACT

An improved kickover tool and well valve handling apparatus for placing a valve in or removing a valve from an offset side pocket in a well tubing and having a support body, a shifting tool pivotally supported from the support body with spring means yieldably urging the shifting tool into the side pocket by providing means for releasing the shifting force of the spring from the shifting tool after use whereby the shifting tool may become aligned in the well tubing for removal. The spring being a leaf spring with one end held under compression by shear means engageable by a valve handling support so as to be sheared when the valve handling support is pivoted relative to the shifting tool so that the shifting tool may become pivotally aligned in the tubing from the support body. Adjustable means for moving the valve handling support about a pivot from the shifting tool for engagement with the shearing means. A rotatable joint connected between the support body and the shifting tool secured by a shear pin to the shifting tool and sheared by movement of the shifting tool relative to the body for allowing greater lateral shifting movement of the shifting tool.

United States Patent 1 Terral et a].

[ KICKOVER TOOL [75] lnventors: Ben D. Ten-a1; Harold E. McGowen,

Jr., both of Houston, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Cainco, Incorporated, Houston, Tex.

[22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 299,812

Primary Examiner-David H. Brown Attorney, Agent, or FirmJefferson D.Giller; James F. Weiler; William A. Stout [57] ABSTRACT An improvedkickover tool and well valve handling Jan. 29, 1974 apparatus forplacing a valve in or removing a valve from an offset side pocket in awell tubing and having a support body, a shifting tool pivotallysupported from the support body'with spring means yieldably urging theshifting tool into the side pocket by providing meansfor releasing theshifting force of the spring from the shifting tool after use wherebythe shifting tool may become aligned in the well tubing for removal. Thespring being a leaf spring with one end held under compression by shearmeans engageable by a valve handling support so as to be sheared whenthe valve handling support is pivoted relative to the shifting tool sothat the shifting tool may become pivotally aligned in the tubing fromthe support body. Adjustable means for moving the valve handling supportabout a pivot from the shifting tool for engagement with the shearingmeans. A rotatable joint connected between the support body and theshifting tool secured by a shear pin to the shifting tool and sheared bymovement of the shifting tool relative to the body for allowing greaterlateral shifting movement of the shifting tool.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures HTENTED JAN 29 I974 sum 2 or 3 SHEET 3 0F 3PATENTEU JAN 2 9 1974 1 KICKOVER TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Onetype of well valve handling apparatus or*kickover tool for use inplacing a valve in or'removing a valve from an offset side pocket in awell tubing is disclosed in copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.95,408 filed Dec. 4, 1970. Generally, kickover tools include a springfor laterally moving a shifting tool and joint connected between thesupport body and the valve handling support from the bore of the welltubing into an offset side pocket for inserting a valve in or removing avalve from the offset side pocket. After use, the kickover tool isretrieved by moving the tool upwardly in the well tubing and theshifting tool is pulled back into the well tubing by overcoming theforce of the kickover spring. Of course, on retrieval, the,kickoverspring continuously urges the shifting tool and valve holding supportagainst the side of the well tubing which causes wear and damage to theshifting tool and valve handling support, as well as damaging anyplastic coating in the well tubing, all of which is highly undesirable.These problems become increased with larger size tubing, mandrels, andvalves as the strength of the kickover spring is increased. Furthermore,in the larger size kickover tools and installations, the shifting toolmust be moved a greater distance laterally. The present invention isdirected to various improvements in a valve handling apparatus orkickover tool in which the force of the kickover spring may be releasedfor reducing damaging drag between the tool and the tubing on retrievalas well as providing a more suitable tool for use in larger sizeinstallations.

SIJMMARY The present invention is directed to an improved kickover toolor well valve handling apparatus in which means are provided forreleasing the shifting force of the kickover spring from the shiftingtool whereby, after use, the kickover tool may become pivotally alignedfor retrieval through the well tubing.

The present invention directed to various improvements in a well valvehandling apparatus for use in placing a valve in or removing a valvefrom an offset side pocket in a well tubing and having a support bodywith a shifting tool pivotally supported from the support body withreleasing means for initially holding the shifting tool aligned inthetubing, and a valve handling support pivotally supported from theshifting tool and a kickover'spring yieldably urging the shifting toolinto the side pocket when the releasing means is released. One featureis to provide releasable holding means normally holding the spring underforce but releasing the spring force by disengaging the holding means.The holding means may be engageable by the valve handling support andreleased when the valve handling support is pivoted so that the shiftingtool may, after use, become generally pivotally aligned by gravity inthe tubing for withdrawal.

A still further object is the provision of an improved valve handlingapparatus in which the shifting tool is a leaf spring and shear meansare provided normally holding one end of the spring under compression.The shear means is engageable by the valve handling support for becomingsheared when the valve handling support moves relative to the shiftingbody thereby releasing the spring compression.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision ofadjustable means on the shifting tool for moving the valve handlingsupport about its pivot support from the shifting tool and intoengagement with the releasable holding means for keeping the valvehandling support initially aligned in the well tubing.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision ofmeans for providing greater lateral shifting movement of the shiftingtool by providing a rotatable shifting tool which is initially securedby a shear pin to the shifting tool, but sheared by a predeterminedmovement of the shifting tool relative to the body.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following description of a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention, given with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partlyin cross section, illustrating the present invention as it is beinglower in a well tubing adjacent a valve seat in an offset pocket of atubing mandrel for installing a flow valve,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, showing theshifting tool oriented relative to the valve seat in the side pocket andreleased from the support preparatory to insertion of the valve into thevalve seat,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the valve being inserted intothe valve seat,

FIG. 4A is an enlarged elevational view, in cross section, showing thetop portion of the present invention in position in a well tubing priorto kickover,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the present invention willbe described in connection with the valve handling apparatus or kickovertool described in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. ,408,

it is understood that the present invention may be used with other typesof kickover tools.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a well tubing10 is shown having connected therein vertically spaced mandrels 12, hereshownas only one for convenience. Each tubing mandrel 12 includes a mainbore 14 therethrough generally having the same size and aligned with thebore of the well tubing 10, and further includes a side pocket 16 whoseaxis is offset from the main bore 14 and includes a valve seat 18 forreceiving a flow control valve 20 therein. The present invention isdirected to a valve handling apparatus or kickover tool generallyindicated by the reference numeral 29 for movement in the well tubing 10for installing or removing'a valve 20 in or from the seat 18 in themandrel 12.

Referring to FIGS. l4A, a guide sleeve 22 is provided aligned with themain bore 14 and above the side pocket 16. The guide sleeve includes alongitudinal guide slot 24, a guide surface 26 positioned below andhandling support 34 which is pivotally carried by the shifting tool 32from a pin 72, an elongate guide case 36, and alongitudinally movablebody 80 carried by the support body 30. The support body 30 includes anysuitable means for moving the apparatus 29 through the tubing andmandrels 12 such as a hydraulic pump or, as shown, for example only, aconnection 40 for attachmentto a wireline. The movable body 80 generallyincludes a first part 82 and a second part 84 which are initiallysecured together by a shear pin 86.

A. guide key 46 is pivotally connected to the movable body 80 at itslower end by an emergency shear pin 50. Support body 30 also includes anopening 44 through which the guide key 46 is yieldably urged outwardlyby a spring 48. The guide key 46 also includes an upwardly directingactuating shoulder 56 which when the key 46 is below the guidesurface 26will contact the surface thereby rotating and aligning the valvehandling apparatus 29 in the well bore as the key 46 moves along theguide surface 26, into the slot 24, and into engagement with theactuating shoulder 28.

t Suitable releasable engaging means such as shoulder 60 is connected tothe lower end of the second part 84 .of the movable body 80 for engaginga portion of the shifting tool 32, such as 62, to keep the tool 32initially aligned within the guide case 36 and thus aligned with themain bore 14 in the tubing 10 as the apparatus is initially moved downthe well bore. However, when the apparatus 29 is moved into the desiredmandrel in which it is desired to install or remove a valve, the guidekey 46 is moved into the selected guide slot 24 and the shoulder 56engages the actuating shoulder 28 preventing further upward movement ofthe movable body 80 but allowing further upward movement of the supportbody 30 which will disengage the releasing engaging means or shoulder 60as the pin 62 moves upwardly past the shoulder 60 allowing the shiftingtool 32 to be actuated, rotated about pin 90, and shifted laterally intothe side pocket 16 as spring 64 acts between the inside of the guidecase ,36 and tool 32 to shift the shifting tool 32 and the valvehandling support 34 over into the side pocket 16 and aligned overthevalve seat 18.

For installing a flow control valve 20, a suitable running adapter 74such as the type JC-3 sold by Camco, incorporated of Houston, Texas, andas more fully described in Pat. No. 3,353,608 may be used. With therelease of the shifting tool 32 and its movement outwardly and above thevalve seat 18, and as best seen in FIG. 3, the kickover tool or valvehandling apparatus 29 may be lowered to cause the lower end of the valveto move into the valve seat 18. The pivoted connec tion 72 between theshifting tool 32 and the valve handling support 34 allows the valve'20to become vertically aligned with the valve seat 18 and further downwardmovement of jarring of the apparatus 29 allows the valve handlingsupport 34 and adapter 74 to become aligned with the valve seat 18 andfurther downward movement seats the valve 20 in the valve seat 18.

Of course, the valve handling apparatus 29 of the present invention mayalso be used to remove a valve 20 from a valve seat in a selectedmandrel by utilizing a pulling adapter of any conventional type, such asthe type JDC of Camco, Incorporated of Houston, as shown in Pat. No.3,353,608, in place of the running adapter 74.

After the valve 20 is seated or removed from the valve seat 18 theapparatus 29 is withdrawn from the tubing 10 by upward movement. Theabove named general description of the kickover tool 29 is generallydisclosed in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 95,408.

However, and referring to FIG. 6, assuming the kickover tool 29 isremoved through the tubing 10, the spring 64 continues to yieldably urgethe shifting tool 32, the valve handling support 34 and any adaptersconnected therethrough against the inside of the tubing 10 causing wearand damage to the kickover tool 29 as well as damaging any plasticcoating on the inside of the tubing 10. The problem is increased inlarger sized equipment as the spring 64 must be of sufficient strengthto shift heavier and larger equipment a greater lateral distance. One ofthe features of the present invention is the provision of means forreleasing the force of the spring 64 so that the shifting tool 34 mayfreely pivot about pivot by gravity and align itself with the supportbody 30 and avoid undue dragging against the inside of the tubing 10 asthe tool 29 is retrieved.

Referring now to FIG. 4B, the spring 64 is preferably a leaf spring, oneend is preferably secured to a spring hinge which in turn is supportedaround a pviot pin 102 on the shifting tool 32. The second end of thehinge 100 is secured from movement by a shear pin 104 connected to theshifting tool 32. Thus, the shear pin 104 holds the spring 64 undercompression so that when the releasing means 60 and 62 aredisengaged,-as best seen in FIG. 6, the kickover spring 64 may laterallymove the shifting tool 32 over into the side pocket 16. It is to benoted from FIGS. 2 and 6 that at this point valve handling support 34 isstill aligned with the shifting tool 32. However, as best seen in FIG.3, when the valve 20 is inserted into the valve seat 18 and a downwardjar is taken on the kickover tool 29 the valve handling support 34 willrotate about its pivot support 72 from the shear pin 104 thus freeingthe spring hinge 100 to rotate about pin 102 and release the compressiveforce in the spring 64. After use, the shifting tool 32 may rotate aboutpin 90 from the support body 30 and assume a generally aligned positionwith the body 30 for retrieval through the well tubing 10 without beingforced up against the inside of the tubing 10 by the spring 64.

'Referring again to FIG. 48, a set screw 108 may be provided for actingagainst the bottom end of the shifting tool 32. The set screw 108 actsto hold the valve handling support 34 and any equipment connectedthereto in axial alignment with the kickover tool 29 to prevent theequipment, such as valve 20, from moving out of alignment and beingcaught on a shoulder in the well tubing due to looseness in the pivotingjoint 72. Furthermore, the set pin 108 acts to hold the shoulder 106 ofthe valve handling support 34 up against the spring hinge 100 forinsuring that the shear pin 104 is properly and timely sheared.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 6, it is noted that initially that thereleasing engagement means 60 and 62 between the body 30 and theshifting tool 32 is in engagement, but as best seen in FIG. 6 when theybecome released, the shifting tool 32 may be laterally moved into theside pocket 16 by the spring 64. However, in the larger installations,such as with larger valves, tubings and mandrels, the disengagement ofthe releasing means 60 and 62 does not provide a sufficient rotationabout the pivot pin 90 to move a shifting tool 32 a sufficient lateralextent over into the side pocket 16. Therefore, referring now to FIGS.4A-7, a rotatable joint is provided about the pivoting pin 90 to provideadditional rotation between the shifting pin 32 and the support body 30.Thus, while both the support body 30 and 2 shifting tool 32 areconnected to and rotate about the pin 90 a rotatable joint adapter 110is provided, also pivoting about thepin 90 and initially connected tothe shifting tool 32 by a shear pin 112. Thus, the rotatable joint 110holds the shifting tool 32 aligned with the body 30 by initiallyproviding a rigid connection through the shear pin 112 and the releasingpin 62. However, as best seen in FIG. 7, when the valve is inserted intothe valve seat 18, causing the valve handling support 34 to pivot aroundpivot pin 72, pin 112 is sheared prior to the shearing of pin 106 toallow a further lateral movement of the shifting tool 32.

The present, invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out theobjects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as .othersinherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes inthe details of construction, and arrangement of parts, may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a well valve handling apparatus adapted for use in placing a valvein or removing a valve from an offset side pocket in a well tubinghaving a support body, a shifting tool pivotally supported from thesupport body and adapted to support a valve support apparatus, releasingmeans for initially holding the shifting tool aligned in the tubing, andspring means yieldably urging the shifting tool into the side pocketwhen the releasing means is released, the improvement comprising,

means for releasing the shifting force of the spring from the shiftingtool whereby the shifting tool may after use become pivotally aligned inthe tubing.

2. In a well valve handling apparatus adapted for'use in placing a valvein or removing a valve from an offset side pocket in a well tubing andhaving a support body, a shifting tool pivotally supported from thesupport body, releasing means for initially holding the shifting toolaligned in the tubing, a valve handling support pivotally supported fromthe shifting tool, spring means yieldably urging the shifting tool intothe side pocket when the releasing means is released, the improvementcomprising,

releasable holding means normally holding the spring under force, butreleasing the spring force when released, and

said holding means engageable by the valve handling support and releasedwhen the valve handling support is pivoted whereby the shifting toolmay, after use, become pivotally aligned by gravity in the tubmg.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the releasable holding means is ashear pin.

4. In a well valve handling apparatus adapted for use in placing a valvein or removing a valve from an offset side pocket in a well tubing andhaving a support body, a shifting tool pivotally supported from thesupport body, releasing means for initially holding the shifting toolaligned in the tubing, a valve handling support piv otally supportedfrom the shifting tool, spring means yieldably urging the shifting toolinto the side pocket when the releasing means is released, theimprovement comprising,

said spring being a leaf spring,

shear means normally holding one end of the spring under compression,but releasing the spring when released, and said shear means engageableby the valve handling support sheared when the valve handling support ispivoted relative to the shifting tool whereby the shifting tool may,after, use, become pivotally aligned by gravity in the tubing from thesupport body.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 including,

adjustable means for moving the valve handling support about the pivotto the shifting tool and into engagement with the releasable holdingmeans.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 including,

a rotatable joint connected between the'support body and the shiftingtool, and

said joint initially secured by a shear pin to the shifting tool butsheared by movement of the shifting tool relative to the body forallowing greater shifting movement of the shifting tool. 7. In a wellvalve handling apparatus adapted for use in placing a valve in orremoving a valve from an offset side pocket in a well tubing and havinga support body, a shifting tool pivotally supported from the supportbody, releasing means for initially holding the shifting tool aligned inthe tubing, a valve handling support pivotally supported from theshifting tool, spring means yieldably urging the shifting tool into theside pocket when the releasing means is released, the improvementcomprising,

said spring being a leaf spring, a spring arm pivotally connected to theshifting tool, one end of the arm connected to one end of the shearmeans connected to the second end of the arm for initially holding thespring under compression, but releasing the arm and the spring whensheared,

the second end of the spring arm engageable by the valve handlingsupport whereby the second end is moved and the shear means sheared whenthe valve handling support is pivoted relative to the shifting toolallowing the shifting tool, after use, to become pivotally aligned bygravity in the tubing from the support body.

1. In a well valve handling apparatus adapted for use in placing a valvein or removing a valve from an offset side pocket in a well tubinghaving a support body, a shifting tool pivotally supported from thesupport body and adapted to support a valve support apparatus, releasingmeans for initially holding the shifting tool aligned in the tubing, andspring means yieldably urging the shifting tool into the side pocketwhen the releasing means is released, the improvement comprising, meansfor releasing the shifting force of the spring from the shifting toolwhereby the shifting tool may after use become pivotally aligned in thetubing.
 2. In a well valve handling apparatus adapted for use in placinga valve in or removing a valve from an offset side pocket in a welltubing and having a support body, a shifting tool pivotally supportedfrom the support body, releasing means for initially holding theshifting tool aligned in the tubing, a valve handling support pivotallysupported from the shifting tool, spring means yieldably urging theshifting tool into the side pocket when the releasing means is released,the improvement comprising, releasable holding means normally holdingthe spring under force, but releasing the spring force when released,and said holding means engageable by the valve handling support andreleased when the valve handling support is pivoted whereby the shiftingtool may, after use, become pivotally aligned by gravity in the tubing.3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the releasable holding means is ashear pin.
 4. In a well valve handling apparatus adapted for use inplacing a valve in or removing a valve from an offset side pocket in awell tubing and having a support body, a shifting tool pivotallysupported from the support body, releasing means for initially holdingthe shifting tool aligned in the tubing, a valve handling supportpivotally supported from the shifting tool, spring means yieldablyurging the shifting tool into the side pocket when the releasing meansis released, the improvement comprising, said spring being a leafspring, shear means normally holding one end of the spring undercompression, but releasing the spring when released, and said shearmeans engageable by the valve handling support sheared when the valvehandling support is pivoted relative to the shifting tool whereby theshiftIng tool may, after, use, become pivotally aligned by gravity inthe tubing from the support body.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 including,adjustable means for moving the valve handling support about the pivotto the shifting tool and into engagement with the releasable holdingmeans.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 including, a rotatable jointconnected between the support body and the shifting tool, and said jointinitially secured by a shear pin to the shifting tool but sheared bymovement of the shifting tool relative to the body for allowing greatershifting movement of the shifting tool.
 7. In a well valve handlingapparatus adapted for use in placing a valve in or removing a valve froman offset side pocket in a well tubing and having a support body, ashifting tool pivotally supported from the support body, releasing meansfor initially holding the shifting tool aligned in the tubing, a valvehandling support pivotally supported from the shifting tool, springmeans yieldably urging the shifting tool into the side pocket when thereleasing means is released, the improvement comprising, said springbeing a leaf spring, a spring arm pivotally connected to the shiftingtool, one end of the arm connected to one end of the spring, shear meansconnected to the second end of the arm for initially holding the springunder compression, but releasing the arm and the spring when sheared,the second end of the spring arm engageable by the valve handlingsupport whereby the second end is moved and the shear means sheared whenthe valve handling support is pivoted relative to the shifting toolallowing the shifting tool, after use, to become pivotally aligned bygravity in the tubing from the support body.